This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking today, Minister Ellwood said:

I welcome the news that the Government of Iraq has raised the Iraqi flag again in Tikrit. The UK is committed to supporting the Iraqi government against the terrorism of the vile organisation ISIL. However whilst this is a critical achievement it is a first step in a long campaign.

We are proud that the international coalition has supported the Iraqi Security Forces in its efforts to defeat ISIL and despite their propaganda machine, ISIL are losing this fight. I
echo Prime Minister Abadi’s recent call that all parties respect the human rights of citizens in Tikrit who have already suffered so much at the hands of brutal ISIL terrorists.